Eixample Summary

Pros

Barcelona’s most stunning and representative Modernist and Art Nouveau buildings

Peaceful, pretty tree-lined streets with gorgeous architecture

Easy to explore by foot, and grid system makes it easy to navigate

Passeig de Gracia is a posh shopping boulevard

Great restaurants

Upscale and upper-middle-range accomodation

Three subway lines run through the neighborhood

Central location within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter and the main thoroughfares

Most attractions are in a compact area

Cons

Few good budget dining and accommodation options

Crowds, mostly along Passeig de Gracia, where most attractions and boutiques are

What It's Like

Few neighborhoods in central Barcelona capture the city’s golden days as the Eixample does. Developed in the mid-19th century outside the city walls, the neighborhood has beautiful, wide tree-lined streets, Modernist and Art Nouveau buildings, and upscale designer boutiques. It feels like an entirely different world than the Gothic Quarter. Also, the neat grid system contrasts with the winding alleys found south of Placa Catalunya, the neighborhood’s southern border.

This is where the wealthy live and play, but also where most tourists spend their days admiring the gorgeous buildings, shopping, and feeling the rhythm of the city. The neighborhood feels upscale, quiet (despite the crowds), and relaxed, and is high on most tourists' priority list of places to visit in Barcelona.

Where to Stay

The area around the southern section of Passeig de Gracia is probably the most convenient due to its proximity to major attractions and several subway lines. Properties in this area are mostly within walking distance to the fascinating Gothic Quarter and lively Las Ramblas. Mid-range hotels tend to be deeper into the neighborhood, but are also generally better value than some of the properties located right on the Passeig. Travelers who don’t mind not being in the thick of the action but want to be close to everything, might prefer the quieter northeastern side of the neighborhood, closer to the Sagrada Familia.